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Peace pole dedication
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Anonymous user Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments World peace will be the focus of First Congregational-United Church of Christ youth as they dedicate a peace pole on church grounds on Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. at 5 Real Road with help from Mayor Harvey Hall, several former Peace Corps volunteers, and members of the Bakersfield community.
The event originated during a teen Bible class discussion of local incidents of violence, according to FCC Youth Director Nancy Bacon.
“Our teens wanted to push the concept of peace,” she said. “Our teens hope that the monument will help make the community more mindful of peace and the need for non-violent resolution of conflicts.”
The Peace Pole Project was started by the non-sectarian World Prayer society, a non-profit group dedicated to uniting people around the world by the common prayer,  “May peace prevail on earth.”
The prayer is inscribed on the 7-foot wooden pole in several different languages, including Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, Swahili and even Braille. Teens are in the process of recruiting local citizens to read the prayer in these languages as part of the dedication ceremony.
Over 200,000 such poles exist in over 180 countries such as Russia,  Japan, Canada, South Africa and Israel. World leaders involved in peace poll dedications have included Pope John Paul II, Mother Theresa, U.S. President Jimmy Carter and actor Marcel Marceau.
“It’s cool that there are other places where these poles exist,” Bakersfield High School junior Michael Kapphahn said. “People walk by our church all the time. It should remind us of our need to aim for peace in our community and in the world.”
Kapphahn, who has also been involved in youth group projects promoting Heifer Project, is seriously thinking of eventually joining the Peace Corps.
Heifer Project raises funds to alleviate poverty globally by distributing young animals to families throughout the world.
Jackie Hine, a senior at Liberty High School, thinks that the peace pole reflects the teachings of her church and most local congregations.
“We encourage respect for others and peaceful conflict resolution,” Hine stated.
The World Peace Prayer Society was founded in 1955 in Japan with world headquarters in New York. It is associated with the Department of Public Information at the United Nations.
The public is invited to participate in the dedication.
For more information about the organization, visit: www.worldpeace.org

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